The Covid-19 pandemic is at its full swing now and has covered almost all the nations of the world. Italy, USA, Turkey and China are some countries where the number of cases is registered highest in the world. However, Myanmar too suffered a lot due to this pandemic. If you have booked the Myanmar tour in recent times, you need to cancel it as the international flights are cancelled by the government of Myanmar and the ban will stay for another couple of months. In this post, we will discuss some of the recent developments that happened in the Covid-19 pandemic in Myanmar.
History of Covid-19 in Myanmar
On 31 March 2020, two confirmed Covid-19 cases were registered in Myanmar and the committee for CoronaVirus Disease (Covid-19) was formed by the President of Myanmar Win Myint, which was headed by the Vice President Myint Swe and it was made up of union ministers of the cabinet. The total number of confirmed cases as on 23rd April 2020 is 127 and the total death toll is 5 as of now. The number of tests done on citizens is 5,198 and total 2,212 persons are under investigation. The number of active cases is 115 as of now.
The national-level Covid-19 response team led by the state councillor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi announced that it will provide free food to all those people who are struggling across the nation during the 10-day national New Year holiday.
The Thingyan Water Festival
The Thingyan Water Festival is an opportunity for many daily wage earners to earn money by offering food and beverages to the visitors and the event was cancelled to prevent the Covid-19 spread in Myanmar. The government has promised to distribute rice, cooking oil, salt, beans and onions to the people with no income during the holidays.
Apart from food distribution, the government also promised to provide 150 free electricity units until the end of April for domestic use and urged people to stay at home to counter the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
Mandalay Region
All the Myanmar tour packages and trips are canceled in the Mandalay Region as heavy travel restrictions are imposed in this region. Some of the key markets such as Zay Cho, Yadanarpon and Mingalar are also closed until an uncertain time and the region is almost deserted.
Furthermore, the Mandalay regional government has promised to spend 1 billion kyats (approximately US $770,000) to help families with no regular income during this pandemic time. Also, the government has asked the private sectors to come forward and donate to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the most affected professionals are porters, taxi drivers, street hawkers, flower traders and other small traders. The government also has donated few essentials such as cooking oil, beans, pulses and onions to the Buddhist monks and nuns as they are vulnerable during the crisis.
Mandalay and Sagaing regions have formed various groups and volunteer teams to help households with essentials such as soaps, sanitizers, masks and other crucial commodities.
Myanmar government has banned staff from New Year travel
Almost 1 million civil servants travel to their homes during the New Year water festival each year. However, the government has banned them from traveling due to this pandemic time. Every year, these civil servants get the holidays of five to ten days and they return to their homes to spend this time with their loved ones. This year, they will not be able to do so to spread the Covid-19 outbreak.
Myanmar government punishes fake news publishers
Anyone who spread Covid-19 fake news through any of the social media channels will be arrested and prosecuted by the government to stop panic during this outbreak. A man from Bago Region's Yaytarshay Township was arrested by the local police as he posted a Facebook post related to fake news about Covid-19 disease. He was sued under the Natural Disaster Management Law's article 27 which states that a person who spreads fake news or misinformation related to a disaster to create panic amongst the public shall be punished with a maximum of one year in prison and fine.
Also, people who don't follow rules and regulations imposed by the government or refuse to cooperate with the local bodies could face lawsuits under the 2013 National Disaster Management Law.
The KBZ bank donated nearly $1 million to fight Coronavirus outbreak
Medical supplies worth $1 million was donated to the health ministry of Myanmar by the Kanbawza bank of Myanmar to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak and to treat the disease.
